Snowflake Monday

Oh, how I love to create kaleidoscopes with my camera or with my computer. Those kaleidoscopes often become inspiration for future crochet snowflake designs.

Two computers ago, I was able to create stunning kaleidoscopes from existing photos. I literally would play for hours. That particular software doesn't work with newer computers, and I've yet to find a newer program as flexible with ultimate user control. As a result, my kaleidoscopes now are generated within a phone camera app. I don't have as much control, and sometimes, the desired kaleidoscope fractures before I can snap a photo, and I can never re-create it exactly as it was that infinitesimal fraction of a second.

Yet, I do get a few images I absolutely love. With 937 camera-generated kaleidoscopes currently in my repertoire, I have more than enough to keep me busy for the next 300 years.

Nevertheless, I can't stop. I guess I'm hopelessly addicted!

Just look how easy it is for me to get carried away!!!

As long as the inspiration keeps coming, I guess I'll just keep shooting and keep right on crocheting!

Were you able to guess which of these kaleidoscopes I like best and used for inspiration for this week's pattern???

I looked up the word "kaleidoscope" in other languages, and the only really interesting one is in Maori. I did a reverse lookup to make sure the word really does mean kaleidoscope, and it doesn't! It can mean complicated or colorful. As I suspected, most languages don't really have their own word for kaleidoscope, which derives from "beauty" and "that which is seen", which, swirled together and allowed to ferment, become "observation of beautiful forms". Even though it does not technically translate into kaleidoscope, how could I not use such an awesome word?!?

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!

Finished Size: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in two colors, size 7 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Heart Motif Instructions (make 6)

With color A, make magic ring.

Round 1: 6 sc in ring; sl st tightly in starting sc.

Round 2: Ch 2, 5 dc in next sc, 1 hdc in next sc, in next sc work (1 sc, 1 dc, 1 sc), 1 hdc in next sc, 5 dc in next sc, ch 2; sl st in same sc as sl st; bind off. Weave in ends.

Takawhīwhiwhi Snowflake Instructions

With color B, make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 17 dc in ring. Don't pull magic circle too tight.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc and [ch 3), sk 2 dc, 1 sc in next dc] 5 times; ch 1, 1 dc in 1st ch of starting ch 4 to form 6th ch 3 sp of Round.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), [in next ch 3 sp work (1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc)] 5 times; in next ch 3 sp work 1 dc, ch 2, 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 2 to form 6th ch 5 tip of Round.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 4: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 5 dc over post of tr directly below, 11 dc in each of next 5 ch/5 sp; 5 dc in next ch 5 sp; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.

Round 5: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in same ch as sl st, [ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, ch 3 (picot bar made), sk next 10 dc, 3 dc in next dc (middle dc of 11/dc group), ch 5, 3 dc in same dc] 6 times, omitting last 3 dc and last 3 ch of final repeat; 1 tr in 2nd ch of starting ch 3 to form 6th ch 6 tip of Round.

Round 6: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 6 dc over post of tr directly below, [sk next 3 dc, 1 sc in each of next 2 ch, ch 1, 1 sc in 1st dc of heart motif (top of heart) and in each of next 6 st, in next dc (bottom of heart) work (1 sc, 1 dc, 1 sc), 1 sc in each of next 7 st, ch 1, sk next ch, picot and ch, 1 sc in each of next f2 ch (last two ch of picot bar), sk next 3 dc, in next ch 5 tip work 13 dc] 6 times, omitting last 6 dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Snowflake Monday

I'm not too creative when I get super stressed, but once I get past whatever is occupying all my attention, creativity typically explodes back into action.

Such has been the case since my work group moved to a new floor and a new department. Things can still be pretty hectic, and I'm still learning the ropes, but I have more daylight than I've had in my entire working career, and I've had more snowflake ideas than I can keep up with and faster than I can write them all down.

I'd dipped into my Cold Storage twice; in the last 9 days I made 14 new snowflakes.

!!!

Cold Storage: Restocked.

Inspiration is everywhere, even though we've been uncharacteristically snowless since the first weekend of November.

My new lighted peacock with snowflakes played a part in today's snowflake.

So did some Photoshop kaleidoscope sessions with a photo of a colorful snowflake I designed during the summer but didn't have time to play with until recently. Literally PLAY.






Christmas ornaments on a beautiful tree also played a big roll in today's snowflake, which in turn inspired a plethora of more new snowflakes.

Thread colors always inspire me. Always.

And finally, one of my own personal rules is that I can't dye more thread until I use up what I've already dyed. Well, except for the blues. I allow myself to make as many blues as inspiration dictates because I will never leave them on the thread shelf to gather dust. The rest of the colors, I've been attempting to use up so I can pull out my professional dyes again. I'm so anxious!










Something tells me I have a few more bears just waiting to be born so I can finish up the colors that aren't as pretty or effective in snowflakes.

You may do whatever you'd like with snowflakes you make from this pattern, but you may not sell or republish the pattern. Thanks, and enjoy!



Finished Size: 6 inches from point to point
Materials: Size 10 crochet thread in 2 or more colors, size 8 crochet hook, empty pizza box, wax paper or plastic wrap, cellophane tape, water soluble school glue or desired stiffener, water, glitter, small container for glue/water mixture, paintbrush, stick pins that won't be used later for sewing, clear thread or fishing line

Medallion I Snowflake Instructions

Medallions (make 6)

Make magic ring. Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), 2 dc in ring, ch 3, 3 dc in ring, ch 3, 3 dc in ring, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2; bind off. Weave in ends.

TIP: This snowflake has a lot of ends to weave in. If the snowflake will be stiffened, ends may be pulled under just a couple of stitches, then clipped when snowflake is dry. Stiffened snowflake thread ends will not unravel.

Snowflake

Make magic ring.

Round 1: Ch 2 (does not count as dc), 12 in ring; sl st across starting ch 2 into starting dc. Don't pull magic ring too tight.

Round 2: Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same dc, *sk next dc, 2 dc in next dc, ch 6, 2 dc in same dc; repeat from * around 4 times; sk next dc, 2 dc in same dc as starting dc, ch 6, sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3.

Round 3: Ch 2 (counts as 1 dc), *5 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 2 sc in any ch 3 sp of 1 motif; working around two sides of motif, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 6, 2 sc in same sp, 1 sc in each of next 3 dc, 2 sc in next ch 3 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in same ch 6 sp in body of snowflake; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 2nd ch of starting ch 2.
If you're not reading this pattern on Snowcatcher, you're not reading the designer's blog. Please go here to see the original.

Round 4: Sl st in gap between 2 5/dc groups, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 5 dc in next ch 3 sp, sk next 3 sc, 3 dc in next sc, ch 3, sl st in top of dc just made, 2 dc in same dc, 5 dc in next ch 6 sp, ch 3, 5 dc in same sp, sk next 3, 3 dc in next sc, ch 3, sl st in top of dc just made, 2 dc in same dc; 5 dc in next ch 3 sp, 1 dc in next gap between 2 5/dc groups; repeat from * around 5 times, omitting last dc of final repeat; sl st in 3rd ch of starting ch 3; bind off. Weave in ends.

Finish: Tape wax paper or plastic wrap to top of empty pizza box. Pin snowflake to box on top of wax paper or plastic wrap.

If using glue, mix a few drops of water with a teaspoon of glue in small washable container. Paint snowflake with glue mixture or desired stiffener. Sprinkle lightly with glitter. Wash paintbrush and container thoroughly. Allow snowflake to dry at least 24 hours. Remove pins. Gently peel snowflake from wax paper or plastic wrap. Attach 10-inch clear thread to one spoke, weaving in end. Wrap fishing line around tree branch (or tape to ceiling or any overhead surface) and watch the snowflake twirl freely whenever you walk by! Snowflake also may be taped to window or tied to doorknob or cabinet handle.

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Snowflake Zone

I absolutely love creating snowflake-shaped kaleidoscopes in Photoshop. When I was forced to buy this laptop in 2016 (because the previous laptop just could no longer handle the heavy duty (mostly Photoshop) workouts I gave it. The Photoshop CD I'd bought what feels like several centuries ago now wouldn't work on this laptop, and I had to buy a Photoshop subscription.

Oh, I was NOT happy about that! But I use Photoshop so much, I don't think about the ten bucks I pay every month now for the priviledge of using the software. I'm not very happy that the updates don't work so well with this now old laptop, but I'm going to make this laptop last as long as I can. As a result, some Photoshop bells and whistles don't work well for me. I have to do some things manually.

I had a great plugin for the older computer that would create kaleidoscopes. As the computer aged, the plugin took longer and longer. Eventually, that old laptop just couldn't run Photoshop anymore. Took up too much memory.

The Photoshop subscription won't run that kaleidoscope plugin. So I've gone about five or six years now without being able to easily create kaleidoscope snowflakes.

I bought a different plugin for the Photoshop subscription, but it isn't as easy to figure out as the old plugin. I downloaded a couple of kaleidoscope apps for my phone, and I've played with those a bit. There have been some fun shots, but the camera apps aren't as easy to control as that first plugin.

It's so frustrating to me when software updates aren't as good as the old stuff!!!

The pink fireball sunrises we've been getting again this month made me long for that old plugin. I recently had to listen to a podcast that gave me time to play in Photoshop. I used an iPhone shot to create my second manual digital snowflake! (My first manual digital snowflake was created from an actual snowflake fragment photograph.)

my first manually created digital snowflake

my iPhone sunrise

my second manually created digital snowflake

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